Miss Millane, who graduated from the University of Lincoln in September, had been travelling alone in New Zealand for two weeks, following a six-week group trip through South America.

She had booked to stay at the Base Backpackers hostel in central Auckland until 8 December.

Speaking at a news conference in Auckland on Friday, Grace’s father, David Millane, said his daughter had been “bombarding us with numerous photographs and messages of her adventures” before she went missing.

A number of Miss Millane’s belongings – including her passport, a silver necklace and pink watch – are missing, and police say they hope their discovery could help them locate her body.

Image copyrightPA

Image caption
Police released CCTV images of the backpacker at Auckland’s Sky City entertainment complex before she disappeared